Structure



June 22,- 19.43. D, s. MUSSEY STRUCTURE Filed May 18, 1940 '2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENT OR. .DELAVAN 6. MusssX ATTORNEY.

tion readily adapts itself Patented June 22, 1943 srrwc'rmm Delavan S. Mussey, or to Aluminum New Kensington, Company of America, Pitts- Pa., assignburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 18, 1940, Serial No. 335,929

7 Claims.

This invention relates in general to paneled structures, and is door structures of the fireproof type.

It is a general object ofthe invention to provide a paneled structure which may be readily assembled from a minimum number of component parts at minimum fabricating cost.

It is a further object of the invention to provide new and useful methods and structures for interlocking the component parts of a paneled structure in rigid assembly.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a paneled metal door, which incorporates concealed reinforcing and joining members.

A further object of the invention is to provide a welded metal door structure characterized by rigid alignment of parts, the parts being kept to a minimum without sacrificingthe rigidity and fireproof qualities of the structure.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will be understood and appreciated from reading the following specification in the light of the drawings attached hereto and forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates an exploded elevational view of the frame members employed in the practice of the invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates a top plan view of the elements of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1 in assembled relationship;

Fig. 3 illustrates a front elevational view of an assembled door of the invention Fig. 4 illustrates a sectional view to enlarged scale taken along the line IV-IV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 illustrates-a fragmentary sectional view to enlarged scale taken along the line V-V of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 illustrates a fragmentary sectional view to enlarged scale taken along the line VI-VI of Fig. 3; and

Fig, 7 illustrates a fragmentary sectional view to enlarged scale taken along the line VII--VII of Fig. 2.

Although the invention invention in its applicability to the construction of a paneled metal door of the fireproof variety.

Referring to the drawings, I 0 designates stiles or side frame members which are identical in form and cross section. The door is also preferably provided with a top rail member II, a bottom rail an intermediate rail member I4.

directed in particular to metal member I2, and

The stiles I0 I2, and Marc shape in cross and cross members or rails II, all substantially. channel or U- section, as reference toFigs. 4 through 6 will more clearly show. The stiles III are preferably assembled (Figs. 5 and 6) with their flanges I5 extending" towards the front face The flanges I5 are preferably provided with undercut T-grooves I6, adjacent their normally unsupported or free ends, an adjoining, angularly disposed flange I8 being also provided along one edge of each stile section. particular stile construction be described in more detail hereinafter.

Referring now to the rail members II, I2, and I4; it will be noted on reference to Fig. 4 that top and bottom rail members II and I2, respectively, are identical in shape and form and are provided with an adjoining, angularly disposed flange I8 and an undercut, arcuately shaped groove I9 adjacent one of their flanges IT. The opposite flange I1 of rails II and I2 is provided with an undercut, inwardly opening pocket or socket 20. The intermediate rail I4 (Fig. 8) is a combination of the aforedescribed rails I I and I2 in that it is provided adjacent one flange I8 and undercut, arcuately shaped groove I9 in the same manner and form as rails II and The purpose of the herein described will angularly disposed flange 22.

By reference to the exploded view illustrated in Fig. 1, it will be noted that the rails II, and II are connected to the stiles I0 medium of flanged, hat-shaped members 24. Al-

question, By removing a portion of the adjacent, oppositely disposed flanges l5 of stile members I0 (Figs. 4 and '7), the members 24 are permitted to extend through the flanges of stiles I0 and permit abutting assembly of the ends of rails II, I2, and I4 with the oppositely disposed flanges I5 of stiles inner web surface of rail members II, I2, and II to thereby provide a rigid assembly of the stile and rail members of the paneled structure of this invention. It will be understood that the extreme end portions of flanges I8 on stiles III are removed, or cut away, adjacent the ends of mortises, in the form of of its flanges 2| with the paneled structure to permit flush, abutting assembly of the end rails II and I2 with the flanges I5 of stiles Ill. Also, portions of the flanges l8 and 22 of the intermediate rail l4 are removed for this same purpose.

The door frame, comprising the stiles l0 and cross rails H, l2, and I4, having been assembled in accordance with the description presented in the previous paragraph, a metal sheet or plate 25 is then placed in position in contact with the aforedescribed overhanging flanges l8, and in the preferred embodiment of the invention, electrodes of a suitable spot welding mechanism are brought into position, as indicated by the arrows and legends in Figs. 4 and 6, whereby the plate 25 is secured to the stiles I0 and rails l2 and 14. Plate or sheet 26 is thereafter placed in position in contact with the outer web surfaces of stiles I 6 and rails l2 and I4 between shoulders 28, raised upon the outer surface or back of the webs of stiles l0 and rails l2 and I4. The plate 26 is preferably secured as by spot welding in a manner similar to plate 25.

It will be noted that plates 25 and 26, when placed in position and welded in the order given in the preceding paragraph, make the assembly of the door of this invention accessible to welding operations to produce a double walled or paneled door structure. If desired, the space between the plates 25 and 26 may be filled with asbestos, rock wool, or any other suitable insulating material prior to securing plate 26 in place.

That portion of the door between rails H and I4 may, if desired, be glazed or constructed in a manner similar to that previously described for the bottom panel of the structure of this invention. In order that the invention may be described in all of its possible ramifications, a glass panel has been illustrated between the rails II and I4. Therein a suitable sheet or plate of glass 30 is supported between felt or other suitable resilient gasket or washer material 3|, upon the inwardly extending flanges l8 of stiles \IO and top rail II, and flange 22 of intermediate rail ii, a suitable molding strip 32 being employed to secure the glass in place and complete the glazed assembly. The molding strip may be attached to the stiles and rails as by welding or standard machine fastening instrumentalities.

. The door has now been completely fabricated and it only remains to affix cover plates 33 on stiles l0 and cover plates 34 on rails ll, I12, and

14'. For imparting maximum strength and rigidity to the stiles l0, cover plates 33 are formed with integral depending substantially T-shaped tenons 35, which are slidingly engaged within the previously described mortises or undercut grooves It. When thus assembled, the cover plates 33 present a smooth exterior front face for the stiles l0.

With reference to cover plates 34 for rails ll, l2, and I4, these plates cannot be readily slidably assembled. In this connection the plates. 34 are provided with complementary arcuately shaped tenons 36 along one edge thereof, and angularly depending hook-shaped tenons or flanges 31 along the'opposite edge thereof. The tenons 36 and flanges 31 are received, respectively, within their complementarymortises or grooves l9 and 20, and a suitable wedge plate or strip 38 is thereafter driven into place between flanges 31 and the cooperating upstanding flanges of the rails H, l2, and I4 to rigidly secure the cover plates 34 in place.

It will be recognized that the door or paneled structure of this invention provides for complete assembly, as by welding, of a minimum number of parts entering into its construction, and thereafter permits the application of cover plates, the initial absence of which has made it possible to complete and construct an all-welded paneled structure. It is a further advantage of the pan- 1 eled structure of the invention that tapping strips, or reinforcing members and the like, may be placed in position within the stile members before the cover plates therefor have been applied for the purpose of attaching ,hinges, locks, and other essential hardware to a door member or the like. It will be manifest that the welds herein referred to could be replaced by any number of machine fastening devices which could be flush with all exposed surfaces of the door structure, and at the same time be provided with interior securing or looking members which would thereafter be hidden or concealed from sight by the application of the aforedescribed cover plates 33 and 34.

The joining members 24 serve to reinforce the corners of the door or paneled structure of this invention as well as impart rigidity adjacent its central portion, and the slidingly assembled cover plates 33 likewise serve to impart rigidity against torsion in the stile members I0.

In the preferred practice of the invention it has been found that all of the metal structural elements are readily and economically produced by extrusion. For example, the stiles l0 and cross rails H, l2, and I4, together with their cover plates 33 and 34, represent relatively simple extruded products which can be produced in indeterminate length and subsequently cut to length for the manufacture of paneled structures of varying sizes. Extrusion practice likewise readily lends itself to the commercial production of the mortise and tenon joints incorporated in this invention. In so far as the selection of metal from which the paneled structures of the invention may be fabricated, aluminum and its alloys have found ready acceptance, both from manufacturing and structural standpoints. It will be manifest, however, that neither the choice of material nor the process of producing the separate parts or elements entering into the paneled structures of this invention are factors which in any way limit the scope of the present invention.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a specific embodiment thereof,

' it is to be understood that it should not be limited thereto except as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a frame work, side stile members and cross rail members, both of substantially U-shape with their legs extending outwardly in the same direction, connecting members secured to the inner web surfaces of the members to form joints between the stile and rail members, oppositely disposed legs of said. stiles and rails being provided with co-planar angularly disposed flanges, and detachable cover plates applied over the normally open sides of the stile and rail members to obscure the connecting members.

2. In a paneled structure or the like, the combination of stile members of substantially U- shape disposed with their legs extending outwardly, rail members connected to said stileco-planar angularly disposed flanges, a panel member secured to said co-planar flanges, and a second panel member secured to outer web surfaces of the U-shape stile and rail members, and cover plates detachably secured to the normally open side of the frame members.

3. In a paneled structure or the like, the combination of stile members of substantially U- shape, d with their legs extending outwardly towards a front face of the structure, rail members of substantially U-shape positioned with their legs extending outwardly in the same element connecting direction as the legs of the stile members, mem- V bers secured to the inner web surfaces of juxtaposed stiles and rails to form a rigid frame work of the same, oppositely disposed legs-of said stiles and rails being provided with co-planar angularly disposed flanges, a panel plate secured to said coplanar flanges, a second panel plate secured to the outer web surfaces of said stiles and rails, and detachable cover plates for the normally open sides of the U-shape rails and stiles, whereby the first-mentioned panel plate and cover plates present a substantiall co-planar i'ront face on the paneled structure.

4. A door structure comprising side stiles and cross rails of substantially U-shape assembled to with the legs of the stiles and rails extending in the same direction, said stiles and rails having angular-1y disposed flanges adjacent their oppositely disposed legs to form a ledge within the rectangular frame, a panel sheet secured along its dges to said lodge, a second panel sheet secured to the outer web surfaces of said stilesindmails, and detachable cover plates applied to the n rmally open sides of the U-shape stiles and rails.

5. A stile member f r paneled structures, said stile being substan channel shape in cross section and having undercut mortises formed in 3 its upstanding legs. of said channel being removed for receiving an said stile to a cross rail member, said leg with the removed portions being outwsrdly provided with a co-planar angularly disposed flange, and a cover plate for said stile member, said cover plate having depending tenons adapted to be slidingly received within the undercut mortises channel to close its open side. 1

6. In a frame structure or the like, the com-- bination of stile members of substantially U- shape disposed with their legs extending outwardly, rail members connected to said stile members to form a framework, said in: of substantially U-shape and having their legs extending outwardly in the same direction as the legs of said stil s, oppositely disposed legs of said stiles and rails being provided with codisposed flanges, and cover plates detachably secured to the normally open sides of the frame members.

7. A door structure comprising a plurality of stiles and r ils, all of substantially U-shape with the legs of the stiles and rails extending in the same direction, assembled to form a framework having an upper and a lower rectangularportion, the oppositely disposed legs of said stiles and rails being provided with co-planar, angularly disposed flanges to form a ledge within each said rect n ular portion, a panel secured to th within the upper rectangular portion, ,a panel secured to the ledge within the lower rectangular portion, and a second panel secured to the outer web surfaces of said stile and rail members surrounding said lower rectangular portion, and detachable cover plates supplied'to the normally open sides of the U-shape stiles and; rails.

DELAVANB. mussnv.

one or more portion of a leg of the upstanding legs of the rail members be- 

